Water-feed control for liquid-fuel burners



`Iune 18, 1929. R. L. FOSTER WATR FEED CONTROL FOR LIQUID FUEL BURNERS Filed J-an, 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 18, 1929. R. l.. FOSTER WATER CONTROL FOR LIQUID FUEL BURNEBS Filed Jan. 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 18, 1929.

UNlTED STATES RAYMOND L. FOSTER, OF APPONAUG, RHODE-ISLAND.

WATER-FEED CONTROL FOR LIQUID-FUEL BURNERS.

Application ined January 2. 1925. serial No. iso.

This invention relates to improvement-s in water-feed control-means for liquid-fuel burners employing steam-generating appliances.

The principal object of the improvement is to provide means for accurately regulating the amount of water fed to the steamlgenerating; apparatus or vaporizmg-chamber to maintain a constant level therein whereby to secure uniform vaporization.

Another' object of the improvement is to provide means for reducing the pressure from the water main or supply pipe to eliminate the danger of an unrestricted flow of water liable to flood the burner and quench the flame.

Another object of the improvement 1s to provide a water-feed control in which the valves are less liable to collect dirt and sediment or to be otherwise hindered from closing to properly fulfill their functions.

Another object of the improvement 1s to provide a Watersupply tank and feed-coin trol ldevice which is more durable in construction and proof against derangement or getting out of order. Y

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view of my improved water-supply tank and feed-control device shown as applied to use with a liquid-fuel burner having a steam-generating chamber to which the water feeds;

Fig. 2 is enlarged plan View of my improved supply-tank and feed-control device; and

Fig. 3 a sectional elevation of the same taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, this view illustrates in vertical section a liquid-fuel burner B of the type shown and described in my pending application for U. S, Letters Patent, Serial No. 706,330,

filed April 14, 1924;. The burner structurel In the burner-nozzle 11 is a central orifico 6 opening from the top of a Haring throat 7 which communicates with a shallow fuel-reservoir or preheating chamber 8 extending laterally beneath the bottom Wall of the bowl 2. 'The fuel-reservoir 8 is bounded by a vertical, cylindrical wall 9 connectingthe concaved wall 10 of the bowl 2 with the bottom wall or base 13 of the structure. The vertical wall 9 is spaced inwardly from the outer cylindrical wall 4 of the casting to provide an annular vapor- `generating chamber or steam-ring 12 surrounding the fuel-reservoir 8 beneath the bowl 2.

Suitable piping connections 14 lead into the fuel-reservoir 8 from the supply-tank, not herein shown, to supply the burner with liquid fuel. The vapor generated in the steam-chamber 12 passes therefrom 'into Athe air-ducts leading up from beneath the grate to the manifold 3, these ducts not being herein illust-rated; or in other cases the steam passes down into the ash-pit through one or more vertical pipes 15, and thence vis drawn up through the air-ducts to humidity the air supplied through the manifold to the flame. 1t has been demonstrated that by atomizing the fuel vapor with air carrying a content of water vapor or steam combustion is greatly increasedand carbonization practically eliminated. That is to say, the fuel vapor will absorb a higher content of oxygen whereby combustion of the carbon will be more complete and hence the fiame will burn with greater intensity to produce a maximum of heat units.

As before stated, the improved burner herein illustrated employs a steam-ring or uf'ater-vaporizing chamber 12 to which water is supplied through a suitable pipe 16. The chamber 12 is heated by the iame from the burner impinging against the concaved walls of the fire-bowl V2, and the water in the chamber is maintained constantly at the proper temperature to give off vapor to be conducted through the air-ducts to the flame. it is therefore important that the water be kept at a constant level in the steam-chamn ber 'to insure uniform vapor-ization, and my present improvement is directed to means for regulating the water-feed from the supply-tank to eect this result, while preventing any chance of insufiicient feed on the oneV hand, or flooding the burner on the other.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, my improved water-feed controlling means comprises essentially a partitioned or chambered tank 2O having a main compartment 2l and a smaller p1'essuie-reducing chamber 22. The tank 20 may be of generally rectangular shape and is preferably constructed as a asting to eliminate seams and joints orcopper linings, which deteriorate rapidly in use and cause leakage. The preferred type of tank herein illustrated is cast in the form of a box with relatively thin outer walls and an integral inner wall or partition 23 dividing its interior into the main compartment 2l and the pressure-reducing chamber 22. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the tank 20 has one side oliiset at 24 to form the wider, main compartment 2l, and the partitioning wall 23 extends longitudinally of its narrower portion with an end-wall 25 forming one boundary of the main compartment 22. At the corners 0i" the main compartment 21 the bottom wall 26 of the casting is thickened to provide bosses 27 having tapped holes 28, into which may be screwed suitable pipes or rods 29 adapted to serve as legs or standards for supporting the tank from the tloor.

Another boss 30 at the end of the narrower portion of the tank is tapped to receive a third rod or pipe 3l, thus providing a threepoint suspension for the tank. The rods or pipes 29 and 3l screw into inverted cups or feet resting on the floor so that the three legs or standards may be adjusted in length by turning the feet thereon to level the tank from the base on which it is supported. By means of this simple and in genious construction the tank may be levw eled very accurately even when supported from rough'cement floors such as usually serve for basement settings for furnaces. A cover 32 is usually provided for excluding dirt and dust from the tank 20 and this is preferably constructed as a casting adapted to rest on the top of the tank with lugs 33 engaging the inner rim thereof to hold it in place. Above the main compartment 2l the cover 32 is lormed with a dome or swelling 74 to provide clearance space for the ball-float which operates the inlet-valve to be later described.

lIn the present improved 'feed-control I employ two float-valves 1lor regulating the water level and pressure in the tank; one as the inlet-valve 'for the main compartment 21, and the other for controlling the flow from the main compartment to the reducingchamber 22. Referring to Fig. 2, the lengt tudinal partition or side wall 23 for the reducing-chamber 22 forms a relatively narrow compartment 3a leading from the main chamber 2l, and at its end is the inlet-valve 35. The inlet-valve 35 is of conventional type comprising a tubular valve body stem screwed down into a thickened boss 36 cast integral with the bottom wall of the tank 20. The boss 36 is drilled clear through and tapped at its lower `end to receive the thread ad cud of a pipe 37 leading from the service pipe supplying water from the city main or other source. In the tubular body stem et' the valve 35 is a pl nger 3S 'termed with a tapered lower end 39 adapted to lit the beveled seat .lO on the interior et the stein. rlheplunger 33 is reduced in diameter throughout a portion et its length and a plurality et ducts il are drilled through the sides et' the tubular body stem oi thev valve 35 to provide for the egress of the water therethrough when the plunger is raised oit from its seat.

On the side 'ot' the stein 35 is an elbowshaped arm ll2 having a forkedbearing 43 i through the valve 35 into the main coinpartnient 2l of the tank 2 it will raise the tloat 50 to depress the plunger' 33, and eventually, when the water reaches the prescribed level as indicated in F ig. 3, the plunger will be seated to close the valve to eut oil' the supply.

The water feeds `trom the inain compartment 2l to vthe pressure-redueing chamber 22 through a duct or passage 5l cored through a thickened portion of the bottoni wall 26 of the tank. Preferably, the duct 5l leads down tln'ough a raised boss 52 in the compartment 2l, its mouth or opening being elevated above the bottoni ot' the tank so as to be less liable to catch any dirt or sediment collecting therein. A por on of the duct 5l extends horinonally beneath the partition 25 and opens upwardly into the bottom of the reducing-chamber 22 at 53. A drain-hole opens inte the duct 5l and is provided with a pipe-plug` which may be removed to facilitate cleaning the duet. Screwed into the end et the duct 5l 'is a tubular valve body stem 55 provided with a sliding plunger '56. The tubular stem 55 is of substantially the saine 'form as vthe tubun lar body stem ot the valve 35 previously.

described, except that its throat or inlet opening is preferably slightly larger to permit a faster' flow oit the water therethrough. The lower beveled end 57 ot the plunger 56 iits the tapered seat 53 on the interior oi" the stem 55 and is held thereagainst by the action of a pivoted lever 59 operated by the lUU lll)

ball-float 60 which is lifted as the water rises water in the chan'iber 22 is lowered the float drops and thereby tilts the lever 59 to raise the plunger to unseat its tapered end,.whereby the water will have ingress from the valve to the chamber 22 through the ducts 61 in the sides of the stem 55.

The pressure-reducing chamber 22 supplies water to the steam-ring or vaporizingchamber 12 of the burner B by means of piping connections 62 leading from the corner of the chamber 22 down through the ash-pit door and thence up into the steamring through pipe 16 previously referred to, sec Fig. 1. Leading from one side of the main chamber 21 of the tank 20 at a distance above the normal level of the water therein is a pipe 65 which may be connected with a drain or trap leading to the sewer. The pipe 65 serves as an overflow drain to carry olf the water should the inlet-valve 85 fail to close, due to accident or getting ont of order, thus preventing overflow onto the floor of the building in which the apparatus is installed. The method of operation of the complete device is as follows:

The tank 2O is installed in any convenient location at the side of the furnace or boiler F, being supported from the ioor by its adjustable legs 29, 31, and elevated at a height to bring the normal level of the water in the pressure-reducing chamber 22 slightly above the bottom of the steam-chamber 12 of the burner B. The tank 20 is leveled by turning the cups or feet on the standards 29 and 31 to adjusttheir relative length as required for inequalities on the floor on which they rest. The outlet from the pressure-reducing chamber 22 of the tank is connected to the steam-chamber 12 by the piping 62, 16 and the inlet to the main coinpartment 21 is connected. to the service line by piping G6, see Fig. 1, in which is an emergency shut-olf valve 67. mains normally open so that water from the city main, or from a gravity tank where city water is not available, will feed into the main chamber 21 of the tank 20 through the inlet-valve 35.. The valve is adjusted to permit the chamber 21 to fill to the prescribed level, usually about an inch or two below the top, when the float' 50 `will be raised to close the valve to shut off the feet. Meanwhile, as the water feeds into the chamber 21 it will flow through the by-pass 51v and valve 55 into the pressure-re ilucing chamber 22. The valve 55 is adjusted to be closed by the ball-float 60 when the water reaches a level slightly above the bottom of the steam-chamber 12, usually with the chamber 22 approximately ene-quarter full. It will thus be seen that while the main chamber 21 is maintained nearly filled with water the chamber 22 will be only onc-quarter filled, more or less, so that the pressure therein is greatly reduced, particularly as The valve 67 re! the chamber 22 is much smaller than the compartment 21.

`It is to be understood that the levels as herein specified and illustrated are merely approximate and may be varied. if desired, but in any case the pressure in the reducing chamber 22 will be much less than .that in the main chamber 21. Only a modicum of water is required to generate vapor in the steam-chamber 12 ofk the burner B, but it is essential that a constant supply be maintained therein at all times to provide for continuous uniform .faporization. Lack of water will prevent steam forming, while an excessive flow will cut down the vaporization, and if continued is liable to flood the burner and quench the flame. With the present improved control-device the water in the steanrchamber is maintained at a uniform level with that in the reducingchamber 22 of the tank 20 and fluctuations in the pressure from the water-main cannot affect it. That is, to say, the reducingchamber 22 is fed from the main chamber 21 and even though the level may fluctuate somewhat in the larger compartment it will not vary the pressure in the reducing-cham ber. This provision for reducing the pressure forA the feed to the steam-ring most important where wat-er is supplied to the tank from high-pressure mains. or increasing pressure in the water-main is liable to unseat the inlet-valve 35 and raise the level in the compartment 2l, but this will have no effect to increase the pressure in the chamber 22 so that the level remains constant at the point of feed 'to the steamring whereby the level inthe steam-ring will always be the same. It is well known that the pressure in city mains varies considerably at different times and under changing demands on the supply, but with the present improved apparatus such tiuetuations in pressure cannot affect the feed to the steam-ring which always remains constant and uniform.

As the water in the steam-ring 12 is vaporized and the vapor passed off to the flame the dropping of the level in' the chamber 22 will cause the ball-float (SO to open the valve 55 to feed more water from the main compartment 21. Preferably, the valve Abnormal v CTI 55 is balanced to 'maintain the plunger' 56 i This provides for. a practically constant degree of vaporiaation in accordance with requireinentsfor effecting the proper humidification of the ai r through the draft-ducts to obtain the maximum eiliciency of combustion. A

Should the pressure from the main increase abnormally beyond the control of the inlet-valve 35, or should the latter be restrained from closing by foreign substances or dirt, the rising of the Water in the compartment 2l Will be taken care of at the overliow and no appreciable increase in pressure Will appear in the chamber 22. Therefore, the feed to the steanrring can never remain unchecked to cause ilooding of the burner and quenching of the flame. The arrangement of the by-pass er duct 51 is such as to preclude the entrance of foreign particles into the valve 55, most of the dirt and sediment in the Water tending to collect in the depressed bottom of the compartment 2l, and what little enters the raised opening of the duct is deposited in the bottom thereof, whence it may be readily drained out by removing the plug 54.

It Will thus be observed that my ,invention provides a most eliicient and accurate Water-feed control for the steam-generating apparatus of the burner for maintaining the Water-level therein uniform and the supply constant. The improved apparatus is proof against derange-ment or getting out of order and operates as a safety-device to prevent flooding the burner and quenching the flame. The improved supply-tank may be conveniently installed and adjusted, is proof against leakage, and much more durable in use than similar devices employed for like purposes.

lVhile I have herein described and illustrated my improved device as applied to a specific purpose, it may also beadapted to other uses; and likewise, changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

lVithout limitation in this respect, I claim:

l. In a feed-control device for feeding water to liquid-fuel burners, the combination of a receptacle having its interior divided into tivo compartments, a source of Water supply, an inlet for admitting the Water to the first compartment, means for maintaining the Water at a predetermined level in the first compartment, means for feeding the Water from the first compartment to the second compartment, means for maintaining the Water at a predetermined level in the second compartment, and an outlet leading from the scond compartment to feed the Water to the burner.

2. In a feed-control device for feeding water to liquid-fuel burners, the combination of a receptacle having its interior divided into two compartments, an inlets valve in one compartment thereof, a source of Water supply connected With the inletvalve, automatically-controlled means for operating` the valve to maintain the Water at a predetermined level in said compartment, a by-pass valve for feeding the Water from the first compartment into the second conipartmend automatically-operated means for operating the by-pass valve to maintain Jthe Water at a predetermined level in the second compartment, and an outlet from the second compartment for feeding the Water to the burner.

In a feed-control device for feeding Water to liquid-fuel burners, the combination of a receptacle having its interior divided into larger and smaller compartments, a source of Water supply connected to the larger compartment, an inlet-valve for admitting the Water to the larger compartment, means for operating the valve to maintain the Water at a predetermined level in said compartment, a by-pass valve for feeding the Water from the larger compartment into the smaller compartment, means for operating the lay-pass valve to maintain the Water at a predetermined level in the smaller compartment, and an outlet from the smaller compartment for feeding t-he Water to the burner.

4. In a Water-feed controlling device for supplying Water at a constant level to liquidfuel burners, the combination of a one-piece tank having its interior divided into two compartn'ients, a source of Water supply connected to the tank, an inlet-valve for admitting Water from theV supply to one compartment, a float operative to close the inlet-valve When the Water reaches a predetermined level, a second valve for admitting water from the iirst compartment into the second compartment, a float for closing said second valve when the Water reaches a predetermined level in the second compartment, and an outlet from the second compartment for feeding Water to the burner.

5. A pressure-reducing device and Waterfeed control for maintaining Water at a constant level in the steam-chambers of liquid-fuel burners comprising a one-piece tank having its interior divided into relatively larger and smaller compartments, an inlet-valve in the larger compartment, a source of Water supply connected with the inlet-valve, a float for closing said valve when the Water rises to a predetermined level in said compartment, al by-passV valve for admitting Water from the larger compartment into the smaller compartment, a float for closing the by-pass valve when the Water rises to a predetermined level in the smaller compartment, and an outlet leading from the smaller compartment to feed the Water to the burner.

6. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a Water-supply tank having a vertical partition dividing its interior into two compartments, an inlet-valve in the main compartment, a float for operating` said valve to maintain the Water at a predetermined level in the main Compartment, a bypass duct leading from a point elevated above the bottom of the main Compartment into the second compartment, a valve in said duot, a float for operating said valve to maintain the Water at a predetermined level n the second Compartment, and an outlet Jfrom the second Compartment.

7. In a deviceof the type specified, the combination of a eompartmented tank c0nstruc'ted as a casting With integral side Walls, bottom and partition, a 'lioatbperated inletvalve in one of the compartments adapted to maintain the Water at a predetermined level therein, a duct formed in the bottom of the casting leading from one compartment to the other, a float-operated valve in the duct for maintaining the Water at a predetermined level in the second compartment, and an outlet from the second compartment.

8. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a Compartmented tank eonstrueted as a casting With integral side Walls, bottom and partition, the bottom of the tank being thickened and cored With a duet having its mouth elevated above the bottom of one Compartment and leading` into the other Compartment, a loat-operated inlet* valve in the liret compartment, a float-operated. valve Connected to the duet in the other compartment, and an outlet from the second Compartment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RAYMOND L. FOSTER. 

